Biophysical modeling of thalamic reticular nucleus subpopulations and their differential contribution to spindle dynamics

Burst firing in thalamic reticular neurons is key to sleep rhythms and is linked to neurodevelopmental disorders. Several models of reticular neurons are currently available; however, a biophysically detailed model reproducing experimental burst firing heterogeneity is lacking. We addressed this by combining patch-clamp electrophysiology of fluorescently tagged Spp1+ and Ecel1+ neurons with a previously established statistical framework to differentiate cell types. We developed a population of biophysically detailed thalamic reticular models capturing diverse firing properties, particularly varied rebound bursting. These models incorporate key ion channels, such as T-type Ca2+ and small conductance potassium channels (SK), allowing systematic study of their impact on single-cell dynamics. By integrating these models into a thalamic microcircuit, we demonstrate that T-type Ca2+ and SK channel conductances have opposing effects on spindle oscillations. We identify a simple relationship between these conductances and spindle peak firing frequency, and provide a foundation for relating cellular properties to network activity.